Comments on: And on the seventeenth day of the twelfth month, Jerry Keen found himself all alone

By: Ken in Eastman

Ken in Eastman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:31:28 +0000

I hope NorthGeorgia Girl is right.

Maybe she’s just taking a break. She argues well and had a lot of interesting info.

Merry Christmas!

By: AthensRepublican

AthensRepublican — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:16:42 +0000

Could be. I miss Political Widow though. She was/is a good commenter. I just disagreed with her on O’Neal being the best choice. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

By: NorthGeorgiaGirl

NorthGeorgiaGirl — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:57:46 +0000

Maybe Political Widow is taking a break for Christmas like I am trying to do:) Just a few short weeks before everything heats up again in state politics…I think we all need a break.

Merry Christmas!

By: Ken in Eastman

Ken in Eastman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:30:04 +0000

I certainly do! I am a rotten typist (and apparently an even worse proof reader).

My sincere apologies to Representative Talton!

By: AthensRepublican

AthensRepublican — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:59:51 +0000

Also, Willie Talton never openly supported anyone for Speaker in the Caucus elections in 2008. He has never indicated who he voted for. He is a close friend and colleague of both Larry O’Neal and David Ralston and I am sure he will work exceptionally well with the new Speaker.

I agree the O’Neal camp seem to be less than gracious losers. Seems they feel they were entitled to it. Even Peake and Sellier’s comments were skeptical of the new leadership. O’Neal himself has yet to publically congratulate Ralston only commenting “I’m disappointed.”

And by the way, what ever happened to Political Widow?

By: AthensRepublican

AthensRepublican — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:48:01 +0000

You owe Willie Talton (R)-Warner Robins an apology. He has never been a Democrat.

By: Ken in Eastman

Ken in Eastman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:49:26 +0000

I’m anxious to see if the O’Neal people will accept Ralston’s outstretched hand. Their response so far has been less than I expected, though Willie Talton (D-Houston County) has been very gracious in his remarks – and give credit to Talton for his open support of Ralston last year when the chips were down.

Bill Hembree has been very gracious in his acceptance of Ralston.

I believe the O’Neal people, including Jerry Keen, will settle down soon.

By: Mad Dog

Mad Dog — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:39:53 +0000

Now if leadership would dump some dead weight on committees, like the Chairman of the Banks and Banking.

By: Ludwig Von Beachbum

Ludwig Von Beachbum — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:03:58 +0000

Even if this is the case the entire episode stinks. Keen by testimony and statements of other house member was part of that stink. He should have gone or been a better man and resigned. Jerry Keens welfare in that position does not come in front of that of the great State of Georgia.

And if you want to talk about evidence, just remember OJ got off.

By: AthensRepublican

AthensRepublican — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:47:55 +0000

I expect Speaker Ralston will keep Majority Leader Keen on a very short leash.

By: birdfan

birdfan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:37:33 +0000

Once again, many of you are clamor and say Rep. Keen knew this and knew that about Speaker Richardson. Heck, the Ethic charges that were brought against Speaker Richardson (a couple years ago) were dismissed by a bi-partisan group of legislators. They concluded that there was not enough evidence.
Obviously, the revelation of emails given to the media from Richardson’s ex-wife makes the story quite different. If the bi-partisan Ethics group had that information (a few years ago), then it would have been a different outcome.
I just think it is real easy to say so-and-so should have done this or done that because hindsight (as well as new incremenating evidence) is 20-20.
Let me say, I am glad with the changes in the GOP House leadership. I hope everyone will give this new leadership a chance…not judging them on the misgivings of a few individuals in the past…but rather how they will handle themselves and by the legislation they will pass during these challenging times our state faces.

By: AthensRepublican

AthensRepublican — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:22:33 +0000

Yes, and look at who all backed and voted for O’Neal for Speaker: Richardson, Burkhalter, Keen, Harbin, Ehrhart, Mark Butler.

With those kind of endorsements it drowned out and made a laughing stock of O’Neal’s call for ethics. I think Larry himself is a decent guy but he reminds me of the substitute teacher that never had and never would have control of the troublemakers in the classroom.

By: macho

macho — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:09:56 +0000

Sometimes you need folks to pay attention to Capitol “gossip” and not look the other way when members are engaging in behavior that is an embarrassment to the Republicans. Isn’t that what got O’Neil in trouble, when he gave that interview saying he’s not one to get involved in the personal conduct of the members.

By: macho

macho — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:07:34 +0000

Evidence points to the fact that most of the House knew about Richardson’s and Burkhalter’s situation, and most looked the other way – with the exception of Ralston and a few others.

By: macho

macho — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:05:16 +0000

She already was part of the leadership, that’s why calling her a change candidate is ironic. Even if you purely look at sex, and don’t look at intellect or personality, the leadership team does not have any more women than it did a week ago.

Again, nothing against Jan, she’s bright and capable and deserves to be in her role as much as anybody. But, I’m not one to look at sex or color when it comes to deciding if someone is qualified, so the fact she’s a woman is fairly meaningless to me.

By: macho

macho — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:01:10 +0000

If you look at the scandals in a totality, and you’re pro-life, then it almost cost more than one life.

By: 1magnoliapeach

1magnoliapeach — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:19:31 +0000

If what appears to be true regarding Richardson governing style, then this should be the litmus test for those who have been “hiding” in fear of standing against him. I for one hope these “Representatives” of the people will really get down to the true business for the people of Georgia. Too many Georgians are really hurting out here with lost jobs and income issues-it runs deep and wide.

By: 1magnoliapeach

1magnoliapeach — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:15:57 +0000

Thanks. That makes sense. It would be counterproductive to throw out everyone.

By: Ken in Eastman

Ken in Eastman — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:54:31 +0000

The problem wasn’t just Richardson’s zipper problems. It was his vicious style of keeping people “in line” through both overt and veiled threats. Jerry Keen was a part of that team. How complicit was he in all of that? I don’t know.

The representatives themselves have a better idea than we do about who knew what and who did what. What we see in public is sometimes different from actions taken in private.

The good news is that those days are past. Glenn Richardson was a remake of Tom Murphy, a man I worked for years to make the face of the Democrat Party in Georgia because he was so partisan and unethical.

Glenn Richardson, at this point, appears to have possibly been worse than Murphy and as a Republican that makes me want to puke.

By: AthensRepublican

AthensRepublican — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:41:28 +0000

I expect many chairs will remain in place as Ralston wants to have as much continuity as possible this close to a critical session. He already mentioned to the press that he wanted O’Neal on his team and Hembree as well. I would expect he will replace some of the committee chairs though.